=230. Determination Of Water.=—The accurate determination of water in sirups and massecuites is a matter of considerable difficulty. The principles of conducting the process (=26=), applicable also to the determination of water in honeys and other viscous liquids, are as follows: In all cases where invert sugar is present the drying should be conducted at a temperature not exceeding 75° or 80°. In dense molasses and massecuites a weighed quantity should be dissolved and made up to a definite volume and an aliquot portion taken for the determination. In order to secure complete desiccation at a low temperature, the drying should be accomplished in partial vacuum (pages 22, 23). The process of desiccation should be conducted in shallow, flat-bottom dishes which may be conveniently and cheaply made of aluminum and the process is hastened by filling the dish previously with thoroughly dried fragments of pumice stone. When the sample does not contain any invert sugar the desiccation can be safely accomplished at the temperature of boiling water. Drying should be continued in all cases until practically constant weight is obtained. =231. Determination Of Ash.=—Ash is an important constituent of the sirups, molasses, and massecuites from canes and exists in very much larger quantities in the same products from beets. The ash may be determined directly by careful incineration, but it is customary to add a few drops of sulfuric acid, sufficient to combine with all the bases present and be in slight excess. The presence of sulfuric acid is of some advantage in the beginning of the carbonization and renders the process somewhat easier of accomplishment. When sulfuric acid is used, the weight of ash obtained must be diminished by one-tenth to allow for the increased weight obtained by the conversion of the carbonates into sulfates. In general, the principles and methods described on pages 36-40 are to be employed. =232. Determination of Reducing Sugars in Sirups, Molasses, and Massecuites.=—The quantity of reducing sugars in the products derived from the sugar beet, as a rule, is insignificant. In the products from sugar cane there are large quantities of reducing matters which, in general, are determined by any of the standard methods already given. It has been shown by the author[187] that the juices of healthy sugar canes contain a small quantity of invert sugar, but this statement has been contradicted by Bloufret.[188] It is certain, however, that the reducing bodies derived from the products of manufacture of sugar cane and sorghum deport themselves in a manner somewhat different from pure invert sugar. In the absence of definite information in respect of the constitution of these bodies, the methods applicable to dextrose and invert sugar may be applied.